CHAPTER XVIII

A LOT MORE OF THE REAL THING

Through the orderly who answered, three staff officers
were summoned. To these the general gave his
orders in undertones in a corner of the room.
As the three hastened out not one of them sent as
much as a glance in the direction of the unhappy Noyez.

Seating himself in his chair General Bazain, after
courteously excusing himself, closed his eyes as though
to sleep. The arresting party and Noyez withdrew
to the adjoining room.

More than an hour passed ere the three staff officers
returned and hastened into the division commander’s
office. Fifteen minutes after that Dick and
his friends, with the prisoner, were again summoned.

“It has been simpler than we thought,”
General Bazain announced wearily. “Berger,
when questioned and informed of Noyez’s arrest,
confessed that Noyez was the superior spy under whom
he worked.”

“It is a lie, my general!” exclaimed Noyez,
in a choking voice, as he strode forward, only to
be seized and thrust back.

“It is the truth!” retorted General Bazain,
rising and glaring at the accused man. “Berger
not only confessed, but he told where, in your dug-out,
Noyez, could be found the secret compartment in which
you hid the book containing the key to the code you
sometimes employed in sending written reports to the
enemy. And here is the code book!”

General Bazain tossed the accusing little notebook
on the desk.

At sight of that Noyez fell back three steps, then
sank cowering into a chair, covering his eyes with
his hands.

“You comprehend that further lying will avail
you nothing!” the division commander went on
sternly. “Lieutenant De Verne!”

“Here, sir!”

“Noyez, stand up. Lieutenant De Verne,
I instruct you to remove from the uniform of Noyez
the insignia of his rank and every emblem that stands
for France! That done, you will next cut the
buttons from Noyez’s tunic!”

Standing so weakly that it looked as if he must fall,
Noyez submitted to the indignity, silent save for
the sobs that choked his voice.

“Call in the guard, and have the wretch removed
from my sight!” General Bazain ordered.
“Yet, Noyez, I will say that it seems to me
incredible that any Frenchman could have been so ignoble
as you have proved yourself to he.”